Career Paths From Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsCareer Change94.6% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 23% higher.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$78,620
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersLateral Move90.9% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 22% lower.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$49,880
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersCareer Change93.8% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 4% lower.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$61,010
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Solar Photovoltaic InstallersLateral Move92.4% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Solar Photovoltaic Installers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Solar Photovoltaic Installers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 17% lower.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$53,140
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Wind Turbine Service TechniciansCareer Change91.1% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Wind Turbine Service Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Wind Turbine Service Technicians is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$64,120
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
MillwrightsCareer Change91.8% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Millwrights share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Millwrights is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 3% higher.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$65,700
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Ship EngineersCareer Change93.5% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Ship Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Ship Engineers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 72% higher.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$109,530
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related RepairersCareer Change91.5% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 12% lower.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$56,210
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Commercial DiversCareer Change91.3% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Commercial Divers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Commercial Divers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 14% higher.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$72,990
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsLateral Move93.5% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 10% higher.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$70,070
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Rail Car RepairersCareer Change91% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Rail Car Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Rail Car Repairers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 6% higher.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$67,530
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Automotive Body and Related RepairersCareer Change92.2% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Automotive Body and Related Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Automotive Body and Related Repairers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 14% lower.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$54,890
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansCareer Change93% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 23% higher.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$78,190
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsCareer Change91% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 21% lower.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$50,620
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Roustabouts, Oil and GasLateral Move92.6% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Roustabouts, Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Roustabouts, Oil and Gas sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 26% lower.
Current median salary
$63,800
Target median salary
$46,960
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.